MPS’ Milwaukee German Immersion School breaks records for Jump Rope for Heart fundraising

MILWAUKEE – Milwaukee Public Schools’ Milwaukee German Immersion School has raised a record-breaking total – more than $22,000 – for Jump Rope for Heart to battle heart disease and stroke.

MGIS’ Jump Rope for Heart fundraising total is the largest any school in Milwaukee County has ever raised and includes the largest any Wisconsin school has ever raised online.

Now the world’s largest charitable event — co-sponsored by the American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance (AAHPERD) and the American Heart Association — Jump Rope for Heart’s roots are in Milwaukee Public Schools. Now-retired Riverside High physical education department chair Jean Barkow created the event in 1978. Jump Rope for Heart has since raised more than $750 million and more than 120 MPS schools have participated over the years.

“We’re grateful for the generosity of the Milwaukee German Immersion School community and proud of their efforts to support this worthy cause,” MPS Superintendent Gregory Thornton said.“Students, staff and families have stood together to fight against heart disease, one of the top killers of Americans today.”

“It has been ‘wunderbar’ to see the entire Milwaukee German Immersion community rally to help us save lives,” said Tim Nikolai, youth market and heart walk director at the American Heart Association’s regional office in Milwaukee. “The Milwaukee County record $22,000-plus the school raised, including a Wisconsin-record $14,500 collected online, will help us save more than 400 lives.”

MGIS physical education teacher Eric Arndt helped organize the event and fundraising behind the scenes, “but my friends and families at MGIS did all the real work. Their efforts are a true testament to the wonderful program we have over here. It is my honor and privilege to be able to work with such amazing families. Keep jumping everybody!” he said.

MGIS presented a check to the American Heart Association February 28 during a school program. Photos appear below.

About Milwaukee Public Schools
Milwaukee Public Schools, Wisconsin’s largest school district, is expanding college and career readiness efforts and continuing to implement innovative reforms that give every student the opportunity to succeed. MPS’ high-quality school options for 3-year-olds to high school seniors feature school climates in which positive behavior is reinforced; certified, highly-trained teachers; 21st-century learning technology for students; and curriculum aligned to the rigorous Common Core State Standards, which set a clear, high bar for the topics students must master at each grade level. MPS’ Class of 2013 earned $24 million in scholarships and the district is home to some of the state’s best high schools according to the Washington Post and U.S. News and World Report. More MPS news is available at http://mpsmke.com/news.